Why Prime Minister Stephen Harper Loves Israel

Curious why Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is so supportive of the Jewish State? Here are some answers.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has distinguished himself as Israel’s best friend on the international stage. His recent trip to Israel highlighted not only his close relationship with the Jewish state, but his close friendship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Harper wants to create media stories about Canada that are not Rob Ford related.

Many commentators have wondered what the source is of this passionate support. It certainly isn’t political – there are far more Muslims in Canada than there are Jews. Some have speculated that it stems from the teachings of his father who was a veteran of World War II, while others point to his personal faith. Well we at Jewlarious have some ideas of our own and we thought we would share them with you.

Canadians, as is well known, are the most polite people on the planet. Israelis…not so much. If you’ve ever been to a grocery store in Canada, you may notice that the checkout process takes much longer than in any other country in the world. Here’s why:
“Here’s your change sir.”
“Thank you.”
“No, thank you.”
“Have a nice day.”
“Thank you. You too.”
“Thank you.”
“All the best.”
“Thank you. You too.”
“Thank you.”
“Take care.”
“Thank you…”

You get the picture. It’s hard to have a functioning economy when employees are spending half of their days finding nice ways to say good bye. As a former economist, Prime Minister Harper knows this and he wants Israelis to teach Canadians a thing or two about being more efficient. At a grocery store in Israel for example, the above exchange would take place as follows:
“Yalla, bye.”

Take notes Canada.

Some insiders have suggested that Prime Minister Harper is on a mission on behalf of the Canadian people to simply create international news stories about Canada that are not Rob Ford related. The foul mouthed crack smoking antics of Toronto’s mayor are funny for the rest of the world, but Canadians have to live with him. They haven’t been this ashamed since Ben Johnson was stripped of his gold medal at the 88 Olympics. Or since the birth of Justin Bieber. And tiny Israel, which has the eyes of every media outlet squarely fixed on it, is the perfect place for a world leader to create a media frenzy. And thanks to Prime Minister Harper, it kind of worked. For a few days. Until Mayor McCheese showed up at a fast food restaurant after a few too many lechaims. Word on the street is that Rob Ford is seeking re-election as mayor of Toronto. You never know, Rob Ford may be coming on a pre-campaign trip to Israel…

Canada is a cold country. Israel is warm. It’s pretty simple really. Prime Ministers need vacations too, you know. So why doesn’t he just go down to Miami for a week or two like the rest of the Canada, you ask? Let’s answer your question with a question: would you go on vacation with your mother in law? He wants to get away from the annoying questions about the taxes, the health care system, and why he isn’t a little nicer to Aunt Denise. You get the picture -- there are no Aunt Denises in Israel.

Name a dish that Canada is famous for. Maple syrup is not a dish, keep thinking…Poutine is also not a dish it’s a condiment…and time’s up. Now name a dish that Israel is famous for. Falafel – check. Shawarma – check. Humous – check. Halva – check. To put it simply – the Canadian Prime Minister is just hungry. He’s hungry for change. Mr. Harper doesn’t have the heart to say it, so we will do it for him: Mrs. Canadian First Lady, Mac and Cheese and poutine every night gets kind of boring.

Aside from being polite and playing hockey and having unusually potent beer, Canada has a reputation for being a little, well, boring. Even the Canadian Prime Minister himself – nice guy and all, but he’s a former economist. Doesn’t really help Canada’s reputation for boring. Israel on the other hand, the last thing you can call Israel is boring. So Prime Minister Harper’s trip to Israel was kind of like when you go spend the summer with your wild cousin Mike who drives a Harley and is into cliff diving. Prime Minister Harper is back home now, but it will be interesting to see if Canada starts walking around with a leather jacket and a nose ring.

Finally, the craziest reason of all that Prime Minister Harper loves Israel: because Israel is a democracy. The rights of all of its citizens are protected. It has an independent press and judiciary. It is a dependable allay in a volatile region. Now, for some reason which escapes most sane people including Prime Minister Harper, these days most counties want to be friends with a country that is run by fanatical Ayatollas -- not naming names of course but let’s say this country that rhymes with “Biran.” Instead of putting his faith in a country that sponsors terror around the world, that tortures political prisons and calls the United States of America the “Great Satan” Prime Minister Stephen Harper supports a democracy and a dependably ally. Imagine that.

The author is a Canadian and a Torontonian. He voted for Stephen Harper and Rob Ford.

About the Author

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 18

(11)
Neil Klein,
December 22, 2014 7:54 PM

PM Harper is the greatest!!!

As a Jewish-American from New York City, I really appreciate PM Harper, the people of Canada & the gov't. of Canada!!1 I am glad Canada is an ally of both the USA & Israel!!! I am happy Canada is the next door neighboor of the USA & sad that Israel & Canada are not next door neighboors!!!

(10)
WB,
August 10, 2014 3:08 AM

Cute.

You made me chuckle.What is even funnier to me is the fact that the only thing I really like about the Prime Minister IS that he SUPPORTS Israel.The fact that he does stand by Israel is actually making me take a second look at him....

(9)
Frank Adam,
January 31, 2014 10:05 AM

Little Known Canadian Independent Actions

n the early1950's Israel's first decent consignment of modern artillery was a number of WW II surplus Canadian 25pdrs - one of the longer reach guns of mid century technology.As there was a tri-partite (US, UK, France) arms partial embargo on arms exports to Israel and the Arab states in force at the time, the Canadian government - and people who always welcome an opportunity to demonstrate they are not the 51st state of the US - had to find an excuse to allow this sale and did so allegedly because the cabinet of the time were Western Front trench veterans who saw artillery as behind the lines "defensive" and not weapons of battlefield initiative!

(8)
bee,
January 31, 2014 8:20 AM

Israeli food

Felafel, shwarma and halva. After the food poisoning he can get here he will stay in Montreal and eat French food happily. I live here 12 years and after food poisoning over and over I only eat at home! NO JOKE.

(7)
Cheryl Semrau,
January 29, 2014 12:18 AM

Comments of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's visit

Very negative. Is that how you treat a person who supports Israel?

Rivka,
February 23, 2014 4:52 PM

Yes

It's called having a sense of humor. I'm sure Steven Harper does.

(6)
SLG,
January 28, 2014 10:57 PM

I live in T.O. too!

First off the writer is obviously not Canadian it's not Mac and Cheese, it's KD! Second, we Torontonian's know that Hogtown (You'll pardon the expression) is the center of the Universe and Third every Canadian Jew I know was Shepping Naches when Stevo made his speech in the Knesset!

(5)
cindy,
January 28, 2014 10:19 PM

loved this

......and I am Canadian too

(4)
mel,
January 28, 2014 10:19 PM

Stephen Harper

To the Jewlarious staff: Don't you guys have something better to do.

Beth,
January 29, 2014 7:19 PM

Don't you

…have anything better to do @me!

Anonymous,
February 23, 2014 4:54 PM

Seriously?

You know the point of Jewlarious is humor, right? So what better things could their staff have to do than write funny articles?

(3)
Cleo McGhghy,
January 28, 2014 4:25 PM

I find Melissa's comments offensive. Prime Minister Harper has a genuine love and concern for Israel, as do many Canadian's and he deserves respect for that! May God bless him and our country because of it!

Please check your insights. Falafel & shwarma are available til 3 am just over the bridge to where harper lives in ottawa. Everyone has a spiritual side, his is with Israel; nothing to do with a democracy simply because he has recently pledged money to palestine. ... read the news. Our economy is not faltering - not everybody is that polite! That famous city where Mr. Ford lives in a subsurb is well known for its leather AND lace inhabitants. We are not boring, we're as colourful as you are, with flourishing bi-partisan politics, real life scandals, & disagreements with US foreign policy. We fly our own kites here. I agree Harper is perhaps wanting a working vacation; and the history & biblical sights in Israel bar none in the world, but come to visit niagara falls, the rocky mtns. or any other region & you'll be welcomed. Harper is a politician. He's a chamelion; check him out next week or last week for his newest 'hat' on the electoral running path - he'll wear a toque 1 week and a bindi the next - depending on which area he's 'trying to reach'. Maybe he's E.T. 'calling home'.(?)

Melanie,
January 27, 2014 10:01 PM

Melissa, your comment is not funny

Melissa, your comment is not funny. I found it highly offensive.

StanleyT,
January 28, 2014 4:21 PM

And you prove ...

.... that some Canadians have no sense of humour.

Cpme on Melissa, lighten up (and I can say that because I live in Toronto).

I want to know about the concept of "sin" due to Adam and Eve eating from the Tree of Knowledge. The Christian concept of sin revolves around the fall of the man and the "original sin." Does Judaism view it the same way?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Adam and Eve were punished according to their actions. In other words, God laid down the conditions for Adam and Eve to live in the garden, provided they would not eat from the Tree of Knowledge. However, if they were to eat from that tree they would be punished by experiencing death. (If they had not eaten from the tree, they would have remained immortal.)

This sets down the basic principle in Judaism of Reward and Punishment. Basic to this is that every person has the choice of doing good or bad. When a person chooses "good" – as defined by God – he is able to draw close to God. In other words, every individual has a chance to "gain salvation" through his own actions.

My understanding of Christianity, however, is that the Original Sin has infected all of mankind to the point where individuals are incapable of achieving salvation through their own initiative. Man is "totally depraved" and therefore his only hope of salvation is through the cross.

This belief is contrary to the teachings of Judaism. From the Torah perspective, an individual does not need to rely on anyone else to atone for them. In Judaism, sins can be "erased" altogether by sincere repentance and a firm resolution never to repeat the mistakes.

For more on this, read "Their Hollow Inheritances" by Michael Drazin – www.drazin.com

Yahrtzeit of Moses in 1273 BCE (Jewish year 2488), on the same day of his birth 120 years earlier. (Consequently, "May you live to 120" has become a common Jewish blessing.) Moses was born in Egypt at a time when Pharaoh had decreed that all Jewish baby boys be drowned in the Nile River. His mother set him afloat in a reed basket, where he was -- most ironically -- discovered by Pharaoh's daughter and brought to Pharaoh's palace to be raised. When Moses matured, his heart turned to aid the Jewish people; he killed an Egyptian who was beating a Jew, and he fled to Midian where he married and had two sons. God spoke to Moses at the Burning Bush, instructing him to return to Egypt and persuade Pharaoh to "let My people go." Moses led the Jews through the ten plagues, the Exodus, and the splitting of the Red Sea. Seven weeks later, the Jews arrived at Mount Sinai and received the Torah, the only time in human history that an entire nation experienced Divine revelation. Over the next 40 years, Moses led the Jews through wanderings in the desert, and supervised construction of the Tabernacle. Moses died before being allowed to enter the promised Land of Israel. He is regarded as the greatest prophet of all time.

Lack of gratitude is at the root of discontent. In order to be consistently serene, we must master the attribute of being grateful to the Creator for all His gifts. As the Torah (Deuteronomy 26:11) states, "Rejoice with all the good the Almighty has given you." This does not negate our wanting more. But it does mean that we have a constant feeling of gratitude since as long as we are alive, we always have a list of things for which to be grateful.

[Just before Moses' death] God said to him, "This is the Land that I promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob" (Deuteronomy 34:4).

The Midrash says that Moses pleaded to live long enough to be able to enter the Promised Land. He surrendered his soul only after God instructed him to enter Heaven and inform the Patriarchs that the Israelites had come to their Land and that God had indeed fulfilled His promise to give the Land of Israel to their descendants. To fulfill God's will was dearer to Moses than his craving to enter the Land.

It is only natural to cling to life, and the thought of leaving this world is depressing. However, if a person develops the attitude that he lives only in order to fulfill God's will, then life and death are no longer polar opposites, because he lives to do the will of God, and when that will requires that he leave this world, he will be equally obedient.

The seventh day of Adar is the anniversary of Moses' death. He wanted to enter the Promised Land so that he could fulfill the commandments and thereby have a new opportunity to fulfill the Divine wish. He surrendered his soul willingly when he was told that there was a special commandment for him to perform, one that could only be achieved after leaving this earth.

We refer to Moses as Rabbeinu, our teacher. He not only taught us didactically, but by means of everything he did in his life - and by his death, as well.

Today I shall...

try to dedicate my life to fulfilling the will of God, so that even when that will contradicts my personal desires, I can accept it with serenity.

With stories and insights,
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